Make Your Own Tarot Bags

There are benefits to handcrafting your own tarot bag.

You can pick your own fabric design. You can add character to the bag, by adding details: use a fabric pen to add writing, design a small pocket to place a crystal, or maybe add some beads to the pull string. The ideas are endless and the choices are yours.

You also give a gentle flow of energy into the bag during the time you handle the material. Sort of like food that tastes better when cooked with love, your tarot bag can have added protection it was created with love. And it’s easy!

Stop by my Tarot Examiner page for quick and easy steps to creating your own tarot bags.

The Edge - Five Sentence Fiction

One of the items on my to-do list today was to do something fun with the tarot. So, I decided on some tarot fiction.

Over at Lillie McFerrin Writes, a weekly prompt is provided for some fun fiction creating.

This week's prompt, Angles.

I chose The Psychic Tarot Oracle Deck to assist me in this week's creation. The cards pulled - 11 Balance, 5 Wisdom, and 8 Power. In Tarot Talk, these would be Justice, The Hierophant, and Strength.

Hope you enjoy the Five Sentence 'Tarot' Fiction.

The Edge

Jamie took a deep breath and stepped out the window onto the ledge, holding her arms out to stabilize herself. She heard her old gym teacher’s voice instructing her on posture, but that was long ago. She moved along the edge, one step at a time, moving toward the point of the roof. On the sidewalk below, pedestrians scurried back and forth in hurried movements of life. Shifting her body into a diver’s pose, Jamie dove toward them, releasing her wings at the last possible moment, taking flight and soaring upward.

Finding Balance – Two of Pentacles, Temperance

When I think of balance, of the many outlets of interest in my life, of my many self-imposed obligations, these two cards – Two of Pentacles and Temperance – always come to mind. I’ve come to expect and relish the sight of these within my readings. Their appearance gives me hope of being close to that wonderful moment of balance, moderation, and sanity, if you will.

Two of Pentacles

Two of Pentacles - The individual juggles his concerns, his obligations, and his problems. Notice the infinity sign loops around these, making it impossible for him to let go of either side of the coins. He must make it work, or drop them both. His expression is one of concern, but as he jostles around from foot to foot, there’s no doubt he will win the battle. Yet, behind him two ships are tossed about upon the sea, appearing to be on the same route, destined to collide. By finding a balance within his directions and interests, the sea will calm and the two pentacles shall become one.

Temperance

The Temperance – The winged angel stands balanced between the physical world (dry land) and the subconscious (the water). Within her hands, she holds two cups, alternating their contents back and forth, creating a balanced mixture. The Temperance offers a higher balance than the two of pentacles. While the first card deals with the physical portions of life, the Temperance represents peace and balance within the soul, the mind, the subconscious and super-conscious. She does not struggle, but works slowly in an attempt to make life calm and stress-free.

As I fight to find my own balance, I work to blend my interests, to create a foundation which will support it all. Yes, I could give up something and let one pentacle fall. But, in the spirit of the Two of Pentacles, it could and probably would all come falling down.

My writing is a part of me; it is a driving force which must be allowed to grow. The tarot is a motivational tool, a source of higher learner, a guiding star in life’s journey. Together, they supply a physical, a mental, and a spiritual journey.

However, as I move forward, life itself imposes limitations, a need for balance and moderation. In attempt to find such, I’m cutting back my blog posts, on both Tarot Guidance and Footsteps of a Writer, to twice a month.

This balancing of obligations and time is not only an attempt to allow more time for my fiction writing, but also to allow my creativity more room to grow.

Ideas for further exploration of the tarot continue to sprout but as it is now, I don’t have the time to take these journeys. Some of these roads lead toward tarot-based fiction, but also tarot-based non-fiction. I’ve spent the last couple of years, jotting notes as they come to me. Now it’s time to explore these notions further, so I can eventually share them with you.

As I move into a new phase of this journey of life, I thank all of you who have shared your thoughts, followed my writings and supported my steps. I’ve met many interesting people along the way, and look forward to meeting more.

The Week Ahead - Tarot Forecast

Kate at Daily Tarot Girl offers a reading at the beginning of each week, presenting a forecast for the week ahead. Today, we are going to steal this idea, and see what the cards tell us about the week ahead.

As a whole, we all work off the same energy source, yet our own energies mesh with the supply, giving each of us a unique life experience.

I’ve noticed many times when reading others’ blogs which present readings that I can connect with the given reading, while other times it seems to have nothing to do with me at all. You may also find such experiences when a reading is not directed toward you.

In my opinion, this is where daily horoscopes go wrong. There is too much energy moving around to give a good forecast to a number of people at one time.

With that said, take the weekly forecast for what it is, a personal forecast, which may or may not show energies you are also working with.

I decided to go with a 7-card, Rider-Waite (Crystal Visions Tarot) and Lenormand (Titania’s Fortune Cards) combo spread. 

Weekly Forecast for April 8 – April 14

Card 1 and 4 – Monday and Tuesday – 7 of Wands/Garden – The 7 of Wands suggests conflict coming to a head, holding firm and not backing down. The Garden represents a positive social setting – the Fish gives the card a job-related significance.

The week begins with a conflict at work.

Card 2 and 5 – Wednesday and Thursday – 13 Death/Fish – The Death card represents a major transformation, a significant life event, the end of something. The Fish shows fortune and money – the Garden gives the card a work-related significance, work should blossom and pay well.

The middle of the week continues in a work-related theme, showing transformation and growth.

Card 3 and 6 – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – 12 The Hanged Man/Scythe – The Hanged Man card signifies a major transformation and being caught between the old and new. A new perspective is gained through re-evaluation and perhaps self-sacrifice. The Scythe indicates cutting free of something or someone, a sharp break. – The supporting cards, Garden and Fish, suggest this is also work-related.

The weekend brings with it a sharp break from something work-related, a re-evaluation, and a new perspective.

Card 7 - Advice – 9 of Cups – This is the wish card. Whatever you desire can be seen within this image. I hear a gentle caution message every time I see this card – Be careful what you wish for. As the energies coordinate to your wishes, one should be sure of what they desire and what they really want.

Week Overview – There will be a conflict at work, but backing down is not an option. Stick to your guns on the issue at hand. By mid-week, you will find yourself in a major transformation – possibly a new source of income. Over the weekend, you’ll find yourself re-evaluating your direction and cutting off from the people, obligations, or ideas which do not serve in the new direction you choose. What you wish will come true this week, but be sure it is what you want.

Note: The advice card coordinates with Kate’s Mid-week card - (Wish upon a Star – make a wish and expect the very best.)

Does anything in the reading correspond with your own energies? Do you see something within the cards I may have missed? Feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments, or contact me.

Happy April Fools’ Day

Today, in tradition, is a day to pull pranks and jokes, but I’d like to take this day in a different direction – a tarot direction.

What could be a better day for new directions, leaps into the unknown, and taking a chance? In the tradition of The Fool, I ask that you take a moment to test new waters, stretch your wings, and do something new today.

This is what we are about to do here at Tarot Guidance - new material, new directions, a jump off the ledge – destination unknown. Comments from my last posting indicated the desire to see more personal posts, more tarot reviews, and more self-discoveries through the tarot.

Please join us as we begin a new journey.

In celebration of April Fools’ Day, I’ve created a new spread – The Fool’s Spread. Unique name, right?

In the Rider-Waite version of The Fool, he is about to step off the edge of a cliff, with his companion close at his heels. He carries a bag, which holds all he will need for his journey. Within his left hand, he holds a white rose, a reminder of his desired goal. In the background, the snow-covered mountain offers a reminder that the road will not be without challenges. The sunshine at his back offers reassurance of his success, if he only makes that first step.

The Fool is all about taking chances, beginning a new journey, and having blind faith in your desires.

The Fool’s Spread

What is my desired goal (the rose)?

What is my first step toward a new direction (the cliff)?

What is the most important item to carry along (the bag)?

Who will be my companion, who will follow (the dog)?

What obstacles can I expect (the mountain)?

What successes await me (the sun)?

Sample Reading:

My desired goal, indicated by the reversed 4 of Cups, is to bring an end to my stagnant situation. Over the last few weeks, I’ve felt as if I’m spinning my wheels in place. It’s time to get up, and get moving forward. My interests and attentions are being scattered in too many directions. I must put my focus on a tighter target to find a forward motion.

My first step, indicated by the Knight of Cups, is to be open to new experiences, offers, and invitations. Something is coming, but I must be available to accept this gift. Notice the cloud within the 4 of Cups and the Knight both extend a cup outward. The opportunity is there for me, all I have to do is accept it.

The reversed Magician indicates I have the tools needed to achieve my goals, yet I’m not using them. Within my bag, I can find the elements, the magic, and the skills I need to move forward in my journey. If I don’t use the tools I already possess, my goal will remain unattainable.

The reversed Chariot indicates an unbalance, going astray from the main path and a lack of control. Rather than going straight, the horses are fighting against one another, very possibly spinning the wheels of the chariot, allowing me to stay in one spot – the stagnant situation. In the position of the companion, this may be an indicator to be careful who I trust. A helping hand is not always helpful. Be cared to lead, not to follow, and concentrate on the goal.

The obstacles, presented by the Queen of Swords, will be my independence, my natural desire to go it alone. If I can’t put aside this part of my personality, I may not be prepared to accept the opportunities being offered. This may also be a reminder to allow emotions to help in discovering desires, rather than rational thinking.

The success, offered by the reversed Ten of Pentacles, will be delayed. This is a card of great abundance, but it will not come easily or very soon. There’s a lot of work to be done to turn this card upright and reach success.

Also notice the absence of the fire element, another indication of no forward motion.

Overview – My goal is clear, as is the reasons the success continues to be a far reach. By taking each element of this reading and adjusting my thinking and actions, I can begin stepping forward toward my desired goal and eventually find success, a huge success with the Ten of Pentacles representation of such.

Have a wonderful April Fools’ Day, and don’t forget to try something new. Till next time, may your blessings be plentiful.